Reading, Pa. (Oct. 29, 2024) - Alvernia University (11-13, 0-8) dropped a five-set thriller to Widener University (17-10, 3-3) on Tuesday night in MAC Commonwealth Women's Volleyball action at Alvernia.

Widener jumped out to an early one set lead following a 25-10 first set. Alvernia bounced back and took the next two sets, 27-25 and 25-17, before Widener forced the fifth set with a 25-20 win in the fourth. The Pride then closed things out with a 15-12 fifth set win to take the match, 3-2.

How it Happened
 

• Alvernia led the first set early, 2-1, following a kill from Olivia Rohrbaugh and an ace from Hailey McDevitt. But, the Pride quickly swung momentum in their direction and rode it for the remainder of the first set. Widener went on a 9-2 run to take a 10-4 lead. A kill from Allison Wolf briefly got Alvernia back on track and back within five, 10-5, but Widener went on a 7-1 run to take a 17-6 lead. Alvernia got three quick points off kills from McDevitt and Allie Evangelista, and an ace from Abigail McGinley. But, Widener took eight of the last nine points for the 25-10 first set win.
• Alvernia had fresh life coming into the second set. Widener led 3-1 early, but Alvernia responded and tied it at 3-3 on kills from Kayleigh Kehler and Julianna McGlone. The back and forth continued for the entirety of the second frame with neither team able to gain any ground. Widener led 20-18 late, but Alvernia tied it at 20-20 on a Widener attack error and another kill from McGlone. Alvernia then took the lead on a McGlone kill and pushed its lead to 23-20 on a McDevitt kill. Widener fought back and tied it at 24-24, fending off two set points. After another tie at 25-25, Alvernia closed out the set on kills from Evangelista and Kehler to tie the match at 1-1.
• The Golden Wolves and Pride traded points early in the third set before a 6-0 run from Alvernia gave the Golden Wolves an 8-2 lead. Widener briefly closed in, 15-10, on back-to-back errors from Alvernia, but Alvernia pulled away from there. A block from Evangelista made it a 20-12 match in favor of Alvernia, and the Golden Wolves closed it out with kills from Kehler to take the set, 25-17, and take a 2-1 match lead.
• The fourth set played much like the second, but this time it was Widener who was able to gain late ground in a set that was very much back and forth. A kill by the Pride and Alvernia attack errors gave Widener the late 21-18 lead in the set. Alvernia called its final timeout, but Widener took the next two points out of the timeout to take a five point lead, 23-18. Alvernia held off one set point for the Pride with a kill from McGlone, but Widener closed out the set with a kill to take the fourth, 25-19, and force the fifth set. 
• Alvernia took an early 2-0 lead in the fifth set, but Widener quickly tied it at 3-3 and pushed it to a 9-5 lead later in the set. Alvernia got three points back on a Widener error and back-to-back kills from Kehler. But, Widener put its foot right back on the gas and made it a 13-9 game on a hard kill from Widener's Campbell Chronister. Alvernia got back within two, 13-11, on back-to-back kills from McGlone, but a Widener block and an Alvernia attack error closed out the set and the match in favor of the Pride, 15-2 and 3-2. 

Inside the Box Score

• Both Julianna McGlone and Kayleigh Kehler finished with 14 kills each. McGlone's game on 39 attacks, and Kehler's on 31 attacks. Kehler also had a team-high 22 digs.
• Hailey McDevitt led Alvernia with 44 attacks. She also had a team-high 25 assists and three aces.
• Abigail McGliney finished with 22 digs to match Kehler. 

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts Marywood on Thursday for its penultimate match of the season. Alvernia closes out its 2024 season next Wednesday, November 6th, with a MAC Commonwealth match against York.